Innovation in cover crops Use and importance of cover corps around the world Crucifer cover crops Peter-Jan Jongenelen, productmanager cover crops

Innovation in cover crops Content -Company -Cover crops used -Crucifer cover crop market -Advantages on crucifer cover crops -Farm rotations -Nutrients and catch crops -Future research

Innovation in cover crops Joordens Zaden  Company based in the south east of the Netherlands  Owned by a French multi specie breeder; R.A.G.T. Semences  Specialized in breeding crucifer catch/cover crops  In Scandinavia since 2005 via Agortus

Innovation in cover crops Used cover crops Arable farming: - Oil seed radish (nematode resistant) -White mustard (nematode resistant) -Ryegrass -Phacelia -Rye -French marigolds Dairy farming: -Rye - Clovers -Ryegrass -Forage rape

Innovation in cover crops Why crucifer cover crops?  Amelioration of the soil structure  Organic matter  Prevent erosion and dust blizzards  Ameliorate the drainage of the soil  Prevent soil fungi  Nematode issues  Limited possibilities chemical correction

Innovation in cover crops Crucifer market NLBFRD/AOCUKSDKUSA White mustard Oil radish , Forage rape202, BioFum blends Stubble turnip Kale Turnip X 1000 ha

Innovation in cover crops Netherlands  Cover crop choice mainly dominated by nematode issue in field  Many different nematode populations in one field  N fixation is additional benefit  Pure N fixation in sandy soils after maize  Oil seed radish  Rye  Ryegrass  Forage rape

Innovation in cover crops Belgium  Cover crop choice mainly dominated by price.  Important beet cyst nematode issue  Importance of other nematode present in soil is growing  First approach to N fixation crops on sandy soils. For this purpose, same crops are used as in NL

Innovation in cover crops France  Cover crop choice mainly dominated by price  New law in place, where farmers are obliged to grow in winter, on bare fields, a cover crop for N fixation  A lot of crops used and tested, but winner so far; white mustard  Beet cyst nematode is most important nematode  Use of cover crops in mulching rotation, mainly oil seed radish  Start of use cover crops towards soil born fungi

Innovation in cover crops Germany  Cover crop mainly dominated by price and beet cyst nematode resistance  Mulching and low tilling system is widely used  Cover crops mainly seeded after winter barley  Market is opening for other nematode problems like Root knot and stem nematodes

Innovation in cover crops Oceania  New market, solutions mainly found in chemicals  Soil born fungi are main problems  Organic matter improvement is as important  Use of brassica’s for biofumigation  Crop choice mainly dominated by what is available  Market destroyed 5 years ago, due copying concept by crops that hadn’t effect on soil born pathogens

Innovation in cover crops England  Cover crops mainly used in game cover  Wide rang from maize to forage rape  Less importance on beet cyst nematode  New law for N fixation and to use cover crops for that, didn’t make it

Innovation in cover crops USA  Upcoming market, now dominated by chemical solutions  Problems with organic matter and water  Start use of mustards and oil seed radish towards nematode issues  Crop choice mainly dominated by price  Big market for game cover, mainly mixtures

Innovation in cover crops Plant parasitic nematodes The most known :  Beet cyst nematode, white and yellow  Root knot nematode (false)  Root knot nematode (Northern)  Stem nematode  Stubby root nematode  Root lesion nematode

Innovation in cover crops Oil seed radish advantages Non host to; Globodera rostochiensis and pallida (PCN) Heterodera avenae (Cereal cyst nematode) Heterodera goetingiana (Carrot cyst nematode) Meloidogyne naasi (RKN) Ditylenchus dipsaci (Stem nematode) Ditylenchus destructor (Stem nematode) Tabaco Rattle virus (TRV) Bad host to: Paratrichodorus teres (Stubby root nematode) On variety level resistant to; Heterodera schachtii and betae (BCN) Meloidogyne chitwoodi, fallax and incognita (RKN) Trichodorus similis (Stubby root nematode)

Innovation in cover crops Oil seed radish advantages As plant Long tap root. Up till 1,5 - 2 meters Regrowth after cutting Leafy product Tuber tends to bulb Has a frost resistance up to – 6 degree C Reduces Rhizoctonia spp

Innovation in cover crops White mustard advantages Non host to; Globodera rostochiensis and pallida (PCN) Heterodera avenae (Cereal cyst nematode) Heterodera goetingiana (Carrot cyst nematode) Meloidogyne naasi (RKN) Ditylenchus destructor (Stem nematode) On variety level resistant to; Heterodera schachtii and betae (BCN)

Innovation in cover crops White mustard advantages As plant Stems and leaves long tab root, up to 1 – 1,5 meters Frost susceptible Easy to destroy Fast growing crop, even at lower temperatures Reduces Rhizoctonia spp

Innovation in cover crops Rotation with crucifers Year 1; Potato Year 2: sugar beet/ cabbage Year 3: onion/ carrots Year 4: Wheat: cover crop Year 5: Potato Farm rotation Netherlands/ Belgium

Innovation in cover crops Rotation with crucifers Year 1; Potato Year 2: Wheat: cover crop Year 3: Sugar beet Or Year 1: Wheat Year 2: Wheat: chemical fumigation Year 3: Carrots Year 4: Wheat Farm rotation France

Innovation in cover crops Rotation with crucifers Year 1; Potato Year 2: Wheat: cover crop Year 3: Sugar beet Year 4: Potato Or Year 1; Potato Year 2: sugar beet/ cabbage Year 3: onion/ carrots Year 4: Wheat: cover crop Year 5: Potato Farm rotation Germany

Innovation in cover crops Nematode table

Innovation in cover crops Rotation conclusion  Most cover crops are seeded after cereals in well prepared soils  In some occasions after early harvested potatoes, leek etc  In moderate climates crops are grown over winter, f.i. Tasmania

Innovation in cover crops Nutrients and catch crops France DM yield ton/ha Total N kg/ha Total P kg/ha Total K kg/ha Mustard1,1224,423,6 Radish1,532,47,247,4 Source: ITB trial 2009, Annois France

Innovation in cover crops Nutrients and catch crops Netherlands Crop length (cm) N content kg/ha Mustard2030 Radish2030 Italian rye grass 1534 White clover2068 Source: N content cover crops, PPO, Wageningen

Innovation in cover crops Future research  More focus on nematode reducing cover crops as use of chemicals are more and more restricted  Biofumigation and fungi  Can we copy Biofumigation lab results towards practice  Try to put as many resistances in one cover crop  Within Brassica group, more species with potential

Innovation in cover crops Overall conclusion  We can’t provide a culture system for all countries. Need is to adapt the system towards the use of the cover crop. Main question in these; “what is the target to use your cover crop for”.  We can learn from other countries  Most important criteria for a farmer; before making his choice on a cover crop, he needs to know what is happening in his soil. F.i. Which soil born pathogens are present.  Cover crops can have positive effects on a soil and the next crop seeded, but can destroy it as well  With nematode resistant radish and mustard, we can solve many nematodes issues and improve soil health.